Monday, May 3, 2010

I have a new blog especially created for these chore charts, click on the button below!

They are new and updated and pretty awesome!

I was asked the other day if I would share how I 'try' and stay organized with 6 kids so here is a little bit of what I do to keep our house up and running...

First things first:
I get up at 4:30 in the morning and go running.
Working out in the early am helps me get my workout done so it doesn't interfere with my day. I know this is an insanely early time to wake up but I have been doing it for almost 6 years and my day never goes as smooth if I miss it! If you take care of yourself first, you will better be able to take care for your family!

2.
If I had a penny for how many job charts I have done over the years, I would be a millionare.
Nothing seems to work with my kids except these few things:

DETAILED job cards.
Every Saturday I hand out the cards , the kids check off their assigned jobs and at the end we have a clean house.
(it still takes some slight raising of the voice though!)

3.

Each week my kids have a different room they are in charge of, when I say 'Clean your house room' they know where to look and what to clean.
It simplifies it a little.

4.
Binder, binder, binder...
I have a binder for everything which keeps papers where they should be!

My favorite binder of all was inspired by my adorable little sis, Em.
When we were driving one day, I noticed a binder chock full of stuff and asked her what it was.
She then explained how she keeps herself organized with it and it goes wherever she goes, so yes
here is my version of the mommy planner...

I have a section for our future dream house...

Each of the kids have a section where I put reminders, papers, phone numbers, homework- you name it and it is there...

Then of course I have my phone number section, good articles to read when you have a moment section, projects to do section, coupon section and my kids favorite...
The reward section.

5.
I do my never-ending laundry on Mondays,
pay bills on Tuesdays, plan my meals for a week and go shopping on Wednesdays...

6.
I have a master calendar that I put everything on...

And do you know what could condense all of this?
My cell phone.
I just haven't used it to it's potential and it drives my husband crazy.
I am trying though,
and I think every mother should have one.
You can keep lists, schedule appointments, have a ton of games for your kids to play when you are stuck at the doctors office, check email and countless, countless other things...
And even though I try and stay organized, my pile of papers always seems to look like this...What are some of your tried and true organization secrets?????

40 comments:

Hey Becky! I am a friend of Emily's and just stumbled upon your blog through hers. :) I have few things that keep me organized...here are the posts that I wrote about them. I am the same way about chores charts in my house...I've made several..in fact I've made some for Em too. :) I need to make some new ones again!

First thing on my to do list this week is to fill out an application to nominate you for Mother of the Year. So, now I'm intrigued. Can you give us a blow by blow of what a typical day is like for you? I can't imagine starting my day at 4:30 without crashing for a two hour nap in the afternoon. I'm sure that's not part of your regiment...so I would LOVE to know how your day usually goes. And also - can you expound on the the rewards system a little? What type of rewards do you give, and for what? What I'm doing now doesn't seem to be working as well as it could. I'd love some tips!Thanks girl! Someday, I hope to be as organized, patient, and dedicated as you...baby steps...

I've been experimenting with different chore systems for forever, it feels. Love that you have all the chores for one room on one card. This post was really helpful and gave me some great ideas. Thanks so much!

HI... I just stumbled upon this... I was wondering if you could share your rewards for kids ideas (or if you already have point me in the direction of that post?). I'm always struggling with ideas for quick, easy and inexpensive rewards for my kids. I'd love to have a folder in my purse where I can instantly reward good behavior!Thanks!

I stumbled across your blog not too long ago and I love your ideas! I saw these chore cards and immediately made some up for my kids! I was wondering if you could sahre your points/reward system. Thanks!

I found your blog via Pinterest & can I say that I LOVE this chore cards!!! What a great way to get the chores done... I am even thinking about making a little set for my younger crew that they can have their own "chores" to do. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!

Oh my goodness!! Where have you been hiding?! I clicked on the link to your chore cards on MoneySavingMom, and feel like I've fallen into a very familiar space. Just a short look over your blog...know where you were for your vacation, we were there for Spring Break last year and LOVED it!!! Have a million binders going, creating another one now for all the stray recipes that keep finding their way to my counter!! Had one for a long time for my dream house--and am now living in it, so don't give up!! Am also a wanna-be photographer as well as a wanna-be runner...your 4:30am rising time is a lofty goal!! God bless you and your beautiful family!!

Just found your blog through Pinterest- very cool job ideas. I've got 4 kids, and have done many job charts so far, but I think the individual check lists are great! I'm planning to make some today. :)

I thought my 5:10 was early to get up for running! I totally agree though- those days that I don't get my run in really do go a lot more rough than usual. Thanks for the great ideas! I'll be bookmarking to read more!

I found you through pintrest! Love your chore cards. I have to say that your menu caught my eye. That is the first time I have ever seen haystacks on a menu. Not many people know what those are so it stood out to me. Hmmm perhaps I'll need to make them for dinner tonight. I am off to look through your blog a bit more.

Hi,This is fabulous! I'm so glad I found you thru Pinterst. :) When I click on the "here" link that you say would take me to see the updated chore cards, it says "Error. Not found." but all the other links work... And I can't seem to find them thru searching this blog... Could you help me? :)

love your blog! I just found it through pinterest. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sending me the detailed chore charts--the family room, living room, basement ones... That is such a great idea to have them listed in such detail to teach them how to do it right! I have 4 little ones under six and this really looked awesome for them! thanks so much!Lindsaygeilmans@gmail.com

I just found your blog via pinterest:) I am a Mom to 5 kids and it sounds like we have A LOT in common:) I also am an early morning runner, have a similar organization system, and STILL have a monster paper trail:) I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to learn how to use my smart phone too:) I really enjoyed your blog. Mine is:www.storyfamilyfun.blogspot.com. Blessings!!

Hi there! Aspiring amazing mom/but not quite succeeding! I love your site. I found it on Pinterest. I hope you don't minde me reading it! I was wondering if you would be able to email me your chore cards?

I have one question: If you get up at 4:30 what time do you go to bed? :)From Pinterest, I had your blog opened to read about your chore cards for awhile now. I find it interesting that I "happened to" read it today. I awoke at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep (which is VERY odd for me :) I know it's because for the first time in 15 1/2 years, I start a full-time job today! My husband has been laid off now for 9 months, and while I'm happy to have this job, I'm afraid I'll go crazy thinking of everything I need to do at home. Maybe waking up at 4:30 is the key (if I can get myself to bed early enough). My husband goes to bed a lot earlier than I have been so it shouldn't be that hard to get into the habit but I'm such a night owl! I'm off to find your chore cards. I have a problem with my kids not doing the "whole job" so I'm sure they'll help us out a lot while I'm gone! Thanks for sharing!P.S. I really want to know what time you go to bed! :)

I have tried for years to use paper, binders, charts, online calanders etc, etc to help me keep it all together--with failure every time...until someone gave me the greatest tip--it's a little something called Cozi (cozi.com) I can keep everyones schedules, plan meals, create a shopping list, have to do list, journal, share info with others, send messages, and that is just with the free version (my head would exploid if I knew what the pay-for-it option would do) My favorite part--my husband can get all this info on his computer at home or work and so can my kids! And my cell phone keeps it all for me to tuck neatly away and travel with me. Cozi has changed my life.

I am glad to see that I am not the only mom of "more than two" that has gone bonkers trying to find ways to organize and keep track of kids and home. Not that parenting two or one doesn't have its own difficulties but somehow when you have that third kid and realize you only have two hands...things can get a little tricky. Though, the other thing about a third is that after that....what's another one?

That attitude got me two more and many that seem to think they are mine because they always seem to be in my house.

One of the organizational strategies I used that "upset" visitors the most was that when I was a single parent for a few years...I moved all the kids dressers into my dining room, painted them to match, and kept them there for about 10years changing color when necessary.

NO more clothes on bedroom floors.Laundry cut in half.Kids learned to put clothes away properly because I was always able to supervise or easily notice when the dressers weren't up to snuff.

Many thought I was truly crazy but it worked for me. It finally changed when my husband decided he wanted the dressers in the bedroom enough to actually learn which dresser was whose, what size they wore, put kids clothes away automatically, and supervised kids putting them away.

For those little ones that can't quite read, make them their own chore charts using your own pictures or custom clipart at www.mytimecalendars.com! Your kid can even make their OWN chore chart using their OWN uploaded pictures if they want! So cool! Just drag and drop into the chore chart and print it out! Voila!

I love everything about this! I am constantly looking for ways to be more organized and thorough with my children. I have 3. My boy is 7 and I have 2 girls, ages 3 & 5. This is the first thing that I have come across of yours and can't wait to look more into your blog. Thanks for the info!!

Love these ideas. For a great cell phone resource, check out the COZI app. It is awesome. Each family member is color coded. You can make your grocery list and your husband can see it too if he has the app. If there are times I can't make it he can look on cozi and know exactly what to pick up. love this app! I have grocery list, christmas lists, any list you can think of on here.